Ombudsman asked to resolve complaint vs. Carmen mayor

CEBU, Philippines - The legal counsel of a former Carmen municipal employee who filed a complaint against Mayor Sonia Pua is asking the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to finally resolve the case.

“It’s been six months since we filed the complaint but until now wala man gihapon resolution ang Ombudsman,” lawyer John Ismael Borgonia, legal counsel of complainant Achilles Morales, told The Freeman yesterday.

Borgonia said that under the Ombudsman Law, all complaints must be resolved within 90 days. Morales filed his complaint before the anti-graft office on September 15, 2009.

Morales accused Pua of violating the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of public funds, nepotism and falsification of public document.

In a four-page sworn letter complaint, a copy of which was furnished to The FREEMAN, Morales alleged that all government vehicles of the town are buying fuel from Pua One Stop Refueling Gas Station in Barangay Luyang since the time the mayor assumed office.

The gasoline station is said to be owned by the mayor’s son, Vincent.

Morales also claimed that Mayor Pua “never endorsed to the municipal treasurer the amount of P400,000 as part of its winning during the Cebu City Sinulog 2009.” To his knowledge, the amount is still in the possession of the mayor.

Morales also alleged that Mayor Pua made it appear that his son, Engr. Victor Pua was appointed for a permanent position as the municipal assessor by former Mayor Virginio Villamor when in fact, at the time the appointment was approved by the Civil Service Commission, Mayor Villamor was already dead.

In his affidavit, Morales is also asking the anti-graft office to put Mayor Pua under preventive suspension.

Mayor Pua, however, said the complaint that Morales filed against her has been politically motivated.

She told The FREEMAN last night that she is expecting many issues against her to surface, even as she denied the allegations stated in the complaint.

Besides, Mayor Pua said she did not receive a copy of the complaint. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon with Jose P. Sollano/LPM (THE FREEMAN)